Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Lindsey Graham: Rand Paul 'Irretrievably Gone' on Trumpcare

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said today that the GOP has already suffered a key defection on its healthcare reform bill and it may make sense to move past the issue sooner instead of later, according to Politico

“We’re stuck. We can’t get there from here,” Graham told reporters. “I’m very leery of a healthcare bill passing the Senate that can get through the House. We’ve already lost Rand Paul so we’re down to 51.”

Graham said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is “irretrievably gone,” meaning GOP leaders can only afford one more defection and still pass legislation repealing and replacing ObamaCare.

“He’s not going to vote for any bill that has refundable tax credits to help low-income people buy healthcare,” Graham said.

Good for Rand. Trumpcare is a disaster on many fronts but the biggest problem is that it is not free market healthcare. It is Trump making the central planning stew rather than Obama.

But will Rand buckle on his opposition, as limited as it is?

"While we do have a press assistant opening in the Communications Department, Senator Graham has not applied and should not make public statements on behalf of Senator Rand Paul,” Paul spokesman Sergio Gor said in a statement, however. “Senator Paul remains optimistic the bill can be improved in the days ahead and is keeping an open mind.”